Why it’s important for politicians to come out
“In a position of power, choosing not to come out can reinscribe constructions of sexuality as a private thing”, says Michael Seal in “Coming Out: The Personal, the Political, and the Pedagogic”.
There are many testimonies of people who have come out over the last decades – especially in days when queer acceptance was even more problematic than today. Yet, thanks to their courage to talk openly about something that seems very personal, today we have progressed to a wider predisposition to listen to hidden experiences of sexuality and understand them.
In his book “Gay rights: How activism and coming out changed public opinion”, J. Garretson affirms that much has been done for the LGBTQ+ community through the endorsement from politicians and positive media coverage.
LGBTQ+ membership can be a very complex topic to handle in politics. On one hand, coming out may bring fear of discrimination, public humiliation, and the loss of confidence in winning a campaign. On the other, going public is a great tool for the representation of a struggling minority group.
Cecil Brockman, member of the US North Carolina House of Representatives shared:
“I made the difficult decision to open myself up to the world and serve as an openly-LGBTQ+ state representative. I knew that this revelation might affect certain relationships I had or make people view me differently, but I also knew how crucial it was to have an openly-LGBTQ voice in our General Assembly. Coming out meant that the LGBTQ citizens of our state knew that someone had their back. It also would show my colleagues that these discriminatory bills aren’t just exercises in rallying their base; they affect real people like me.”
Another great example is Hannah Bardell, SNP MP for Livingston who wrote an article about her coming out experience a few years ago. In her article, she explains:
“It was standing for election and becoming a politician that tipped the balance for me. I realised that I could not, in all conscience, be an authentic politician if I wasn't honest with myself about who I really was. However, coming out also nearly stopped me from standing for election. I was simply terrified what would befall me if I had to come out publicly. I grossly underestimated how far LGBT rights and perceptions of LGBT people had come.”
All open-hearted coming-out stories demonstrate that deciding to come-out is rarely banal or easy. Fear of discrimination or a negative reaction from colleagues and the wider public do prevent some politicians from doing it. Yet, Cecil Brokman and Hannah Bardell demonstrate that the personal and collective benefits gained by coming out are inestimable.
So, if you’re thinking hard about coming out and just need a little extra confidence boost, the Silent MP has your back. Your future story will inspire others, that is for sure.
